Insurance is the part of a self-build that catches people out. You can spend months on insulation, electrics and cabinetry, then discover your normal van policy no longer fits, or that the insurer you wanted won’t touch a DIY conversion at all.
This guide explains how self-build campervan insurance works in the UK, what to do at each stage of the build, and what the main specialist insurers say on their own websites about DIY conversions. Policies and criteria change, so treat the insurer details below as a starting point and confirm them with the insurer before you buy.
Quick note: this is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Always read the policy wording and ask the insurer directly if anything is unclear.
The legal minimum: you must be insured on the road
Whatever state your van is in, if it’s driven on a road or in a public place it needs insurance. GOV.UK says it’s illegal to drive without at least third-party insurance, and the police can issue a £300 fixed penalty and 6 penalty points. If the case goes to court you could face an unlimited fine and a driving ban, and the police can seize the vehicle.
Third-party cover only pays for damage or injury you cause to other people and their property. It doesn’t pay to repair or replace your own van, which matters a lot once you’ve put thousands of pounds of materials and hours of work into it.
Why your normal van policy may stop working
A standard van policy is priced for a van. Once you start fitting windows, a bed, a hob, a leisure battery and a heater, the vehicle is no longer the risk the insurer agreed to cover.
Howden, which sells a dedicated in-conversion policy, warns that “regular van insurance usually becomes invalid as soon as you start modifying your vehicle”, and recommends arranging the right cover before conversion work begins.
There’s also a legal duty behind this. Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, section 2, a consumer must “take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation to the insurer”, and failing to confirm or amend details when the insurer asks can count as a misrepresentation. In plain terms: if your insurer asks about modifications, tell them about every one. An undeclared conversion can give the insurer grounds to reduce or refuse a claim.
The three stages of self-build insurance
Your insurance needs change as the build progresses. Here’s how they map out.
| Stage | What the van is | Typical cover to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Before you start | A standard van | Normal van insurance, and tell your insurer you plan to convert it |
| During the build | Part-converted, may still be driven | “In conversion” or self-build cover; laid-up or fire and theft cover if it’s off the road |
| After completion | A finished campervan | Self-build campervan or motorhome insurance, ideally on an agreed-value basis |
Before you start
Howden’s guidance is to have standard van insurance in place as soon as you buy the base vehicle, and to tell your insurer once you know you plan to convert it (Howden). That’s a good moment to ask whether they can carry you through the build, or whether you’ll need to switch.
During the build
This is where insurers differ the most. Some will cover a half-finished van that you still drive; others will only take it once it’s complete.
- Adrian Flux says its camper conversion cover is available “throughout the entire conversion period, including while the vehicle is being driven”, on a comprehensive or third-party fire and theft basis.
- Just Kampers Insurance says that “in many cases you can arrange insurance before your self-build campervan conversion is fully completed”, with options depending on how far the project has progressed and how the vehicle is registered.
- Howden offers a dedicated campervan in conversion policy, and notes that if the build pauses you may want laid-up cover instead. Laid-up cover means you can’t drive the van on public roads.
- Comfort Insurance says it is “no longer able to accept home or privately converted vehicles” that are still being converted, and only accepts them once the conversion is complete.
If your van will sit on the drive for months while you build, ask about laid-up or fire and theft cover. If you’ll be driving to collect materials or taking test trips, you need a policy that allows driving during the build.
After completion
Once the build is finished, you can usually move to a self-build campervan or motorhome policy. This is when insurers start asking detailed questions about the conversion itself.
What insurers ask for once the build is finished
Criteria vary, but Comfort Insurance publishes one of the most detailed lists on its self-build motorhome page. It’s a useful benchmark even if you go elsewhere. Comfort asks for:
- at least one bed of 6 ft (1,800 mm) or longer, permanently fixed (it can be made up from fixed seats)
- permanently fixed, enclosed storage such as cupboards or lockers
- a fixed water installation connected to a fixed water tank or container
- seating for diners at a table, with the table permanently attachable
- a fixed cooking or heating facility powered by gas or electricity, with an engineer’s report and/or gas and electrical certification, which must be provided in the event of a claim or audit
- a door giving access to the living area
- at least one window on each side of the living area
- a sketch of the floor plan
Comfort says vehicles not registered as a motor caravan can be considered case by case, with at least five recent photos: the front and one side with the number plate visible, the rear and the other side with the plate visible, and three interior shots (front to back, back to front, and a general view).
Gas and electrics
The gas and electrics question comes up again and again. As well as Comfort’s certification requirement above, Just Kampers Insurance notes that “insurers often require proof of professional installation”. If you’re doing your own 230V or gas work, find out before you start whether your chosen insurer will need a certificate, and budget for a qualified engineer to check it.
Does the DVLA body type affect your insurance?
Not directly. The DVLA says the body type on your V5C describes what the vehicle looks like in traffic and “should not affect the insurance category of the vehicle”.
In practice, some insurers do care. Comfort’s criteria include registration as a motor caravan with an updated V5C, though it will consider unregistered vans case by case. Others, such as Adrian Flux and Just Kampers, will look at self-builds whatever the V5C says. If you’d like to change the body type, our guide on how to re-register a van as a motor caravan with the DVLA walks through the 2026 rules.
Agreed value: protecting the money you’ve spent
A standard policy usually pays the market value of a vehicle if it’s written off or stolen. For a self-build, the market value of the base van can be far below what you’ve spent on the conversion.
An agreed value policy fixes the payout in advance. Just Kampers Insurance explains that with agreed value, if your camper is written off, lost or stolen “you’ll receive its pre-agreed value” rather than its market value. Adrian Flux also offers agreed value cover for campers and their modified parts (Adrian Flux).
To support an agreed value, keep:
- receipts for every material, appliance and part
- dated photos at each stage of the build
- a simple spreadsheet of costs
- certificates for any gas or electrical work
Howden also recommends keeping receipts, photos and records, and updating your insurer as the conversion’s value grows.
Who will and won’t insure a self-build
Here’s a summary of what each insurer’s own website says. This is based on their published pages, not quotes, so check directly before you buy.
| Insurer | Takes self-builds? | Cover during the build? |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian Flux | Yes | Yes, including while driving |
| Just Kampers Insurance | Yes | In many cases, yes |
| Howden | Yes | Yes, dedicated in-conversion policy |
| Comfort Insurance | Yes, once complete | No |
| Caravan Guard | No, professional conversions only | No |
Caravan Guard states plainly: “We cannot insure any self converted or self built motorhomes.”
Self-build insurance checklist
- ☐ Insure the base van as soon as you buy it, and tell the insurer you plan to convert it
- ☐ Before you start work, confirm whether that policy still applies or switch to in-conversion cover
- ☐ If the van will be off the road for a while, ask about laid-up or fire and theft cover
- ☐ Keep receipts, dated photos and a cost spreadsheet from day one
- ☐ Find out early whether your insurer needs gas or electrical certificates
- ☐ When the build is finished, take the photos insurers ask for and sketch your floor plan
- ☐ Switch to a self-build campervan policy, ideally on an agreed-value basis
- ☐ Declare every modification, and update your insurer whenever you make more
FAQ
Can I insure a campervan that isn’t finished yet?
Yes, with some insurers. Adrian Flux, Just Kampers Insurance and Howden all say on their websites that they can cover vans during conversion. Comfort Insurance only accepts self-builds once they’re complete.
Do I need to tell my insurer about my conversion?
Yes. You have a legal duty to take reasonable care not to misrepresent your vehicle to your insurer, and undeclared modifications can lead to a reduced or refused claim. Declare every change.
Does my van need to say “motor caravan” on the V5C to get campervan insurance?
Not always. The DVLA says body type shouldn’t affect insurance category, and several specialist insurers cover self-builds whatever the V5C says. Some, such as Comfort Insurance, prefer motor caravan registration but will consider others case by case.
Do I need a gas certificate to insure my self-build?
It depends on the insurer. Comfort Insurance requires an engineer’s report and/or gas and electrical certification for a fixed cooker or heater. Ask your insurer before you fit gas so you know what they’ll need.
What is agreed value insurance?
It’s a policy where you and the insurer agree the van’s value in advance, so if it’s written off or stolen you’re paid that amount rather than its market value. It’s worth considering for any conversion where you’ve spent significant money.
Can I drive my van with laid-up insurance?
No. Laid-up cover is for a vehicle that’s off the road, so you can’t drive it on public roads while that cover is in place.